• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2009

The effects of aging time on the microstructure and shear strength of the Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC)/Ag pad/Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG)/BGA solder joints were investigated through isothermal aging at $150^{\circ}C$ for 1000 h with conventional Sn-37Pb and Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu. $Ni_3Sn_4$ intermetallic compound (IMC) layers was formed at the interface between Sn-37Pb solder and LTCC substrate as-reflowed state, while $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ IMC layer was formed between Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder and LTCC substrate. Additional $(Cu,Ni)_6Sn_5$ layer was found at the interface between the $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ layer and Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder after aging at $150^{\circ}C$ for 500 h. Thickness of the IMC layers increased and coarsened with increasing aging time. Shear strength of both solder joints increased with increasing aging time. Failure mode of BGA solder joints with LTCC substrate after shear testing revealed that shear strength of the joints depended on the adhesion between Ag metallization and LTCC. Fracture mechanism of Sn-37Pb solder joint was a mixture of ductile and pad lift, while that of Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder joint was a mixture of ductile and brittle $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ IMC fracture morphology. Failure mechanisms of LTCC/Ag pad/ENIG/BGA solder joints were also interpreted by finite element analyses.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.235-237
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• 2007

In this paper, fabrication of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder bumping having accurate composition and behavior of intermetallic compounds(IMCs) growth at interface between Sn-Ag-Cu bumps and Cu substrate were studied. The ternary alloy of the Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder was made by two binary(Sn-Cu, Sn-Ag) electroplating on Cu pad. For the manufacturing of the micro-bumps, photo-lithography and reflow process were carried out. After reflow process, the micro-bumps were aged at $150^{\circ}C$ during 1 hr to 500 hrs to observe behavior of IMCs growth at interface. As a different of Cu contents(0.5 or 2wt%) at Sn-Cu layer, behavior of IMCs was estimated. The interface were observed by FE-SEM and TEM for estimating of their each IMCs volume ratio and crystallographic-structure, respectively. From the results, it was found that the thickness of $Cu_3Sn$ layer formed at Sn-2.0Cu was thinner than the thickness of that layer be formed Sn-0.5Cu. After aging treatment $Cu_3Sn$ was formed at Sn-0.5Cu layer far thinner.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2000.07a
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• pp.640-644
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• 2000

The microstructure, wettability, shear strength and aging effect of Sn-3.5Ag/Cu and Alloy42 lead-frame solder joints were measured for comparison. In the case of Sn-3.5Ag/Cu, Ag$_3$Sn and Cu$\sub$6/Sn$\sub$5/ phases in the matrix Sn and 1∼2$\mu\textrm{m}$ thick Cu$\sub$6/Sn$\sub$5/ Phase at the interface of solder/lead-frame were formed. In the case of Sn-3.5AAg/A11oy42, only Ag$_3$Sn Phase of low density in the matrix Sn and 0.5∼1.5$\mu\textrm{m}$ thick FeSn$_2$phase at the interface of solder/lead-frame were formed. Comparing to Cu, Alloy42 shear strength of Alloy 42 solder joints was smaller than that of Cu and all declined after aging. After aging at 180$^{\circ}C$ for 1 week, η-Cu$\sub$6/Sn$\sub$5/ layer was formed on Cu lead-frame, while AgSn$_3$ phase in the matrix and thickened FeSn$_2$at the interface were formed on Alloy42 lead-frame.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2017

In the past few years, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (weight%) solder composition has been a representative material to electronic industries as a replacement of Pb-base solder alloy. Therefore, extensive studies on process and/or reliability related with the composition have been reported. However, recent rapid rise in Ag price has demanded solder compositions of low Ag content. In this study, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder bar sample was fabricated by melting of Sn, Ag and Cu metal powders. Crystal structure and element concentration were analyzed by XRD, optical microscope, FE-SEM and EDS. The Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder sample was composed of ${\beta}$-Sn, ${\varepsilon}-Ag_3Sn$ and ${\eta}-Cu_6Sn_5$ phases.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2002

This study examined the effects of adding Zn to Sn-3.5Ag solder on the microstructure changes and behavior of interface reaction of the solder joint with Cu substrate. The solder/Cu joints were examined with microscope to observe the characteristics of microstructure changes and interfacial reaction layer with aging treatment for up to 120 days at $150^{\circ}C$. Results of the microstructure changes showed that the microstructures were coarsened with aging treatment, while adding 1%Zn suppresses coarsening microstructures. The Sn-3.5Ag/Cu had a fast growth rate of the reaction layer in comparison with the Sn-3.5Ag-1Zn at the aging temperature of $150^{\circ}C$. Through the SEM/EDS analysis of solder joint, it was proved that intermetallic layer was $Cu_6Sn_5$ phase and aged specimens showed that intermetallic layer grew in proportion to $t^{1/2}$, and the precipitate of $Ag_3Sn$ occur to both inner layer and interface of layer and solder. In case of Zn-containing composite solder, $Cu_6Sn_5$ phase formed at the side of substrate and Cu-Zn-Sn phase formed at the other side in double layer. It seems that Cu-Zn-Sn phase formed at solder side did a roll of banrier to suppress the growth of the $Cu_6Sn_5$ layer during the aging treatment.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.133-137
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• 2003

The effect of Bi additions to the eutectic Sn-3.5Ag solder alloy on the growth kinetics of the intermetallic compound (IMC) layers during solid-state aging of Sn-Ag-Bi/Cu solder joints has been Investigated. The Bi additions enhanced the growth rate of the total IMC layer comprising of $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Cu_3Sn$ sublayers. This enhanced IMC growth rate was primarily due to the rapid increase In the growth rate of $Cu_6Sn_5$ sublayer. The growth rate of $Cu_3Sn$ sublayers was little influenced and appeared to be retarded by the Bi additions. The observed growth behavior of $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Cu_3Sn$ sublayers could be understood if the interfacial reaction barrier at the $Cu_6Sn_5/solder$ interface were reduced by the segregation of Bi at the interface.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.126-129
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• 2002

This article presents that the affecting factors to solderability and initial reliability. It was discussed that effect of the solder ball hardness and composition on the reliability of solder joints. In this study, lead free solder alloys with compositions of Sn-Cu, Sn-Ag, Sn-Ag-Cu, Sn-Ag-Cu-Bi were applied to the $\muBGA$ packages. As a result of experiments, the high degree of hardness with the displacement of 0.22mm was obtained Sn-2.0Ag-0.7Cu-3.0Bi. The shear strength of lead free solder was higher than of Sn-37Pb solder, and it was increased about 150% in Sn-2.0Ag-0.7Cu-3.0Bi.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-51
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• 2013

Thermal annealing tests were performed in an in-situ scanning electron microscope chamber at $130^{\circ}C$, $150^{\circ}C$, and $170^{\circ}C$ in order to investigate the effects of solder structure on the growth kinetics of intermetallic compound (IMC) in Cu/Sn-3.5Ag microbump. Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($6{\mu}m$) microbump with spreading solder structure showed $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Cu_3Sn$ phase growths and then IMC phase transition stages with increasing annealing time. By the way, Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($4{\mu}m$) microbump without solder spreading, remaining solder was transformed to $Cu_6Sn_5$ right after bonding and had only a phase transition of $Cu_6Sn_5$ to $Cu_3Sn$ during annealing. Measured activation energies for the growth of the $Cu_3Sn$ phase during the annealing were 0.80 and 0.71eV for Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($6{\mu}m$) and Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($4{\mu}m$), respectively.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2014

With Pb-free solder joints containing Sn-Ag-Cu-based ternary alloys (Sn-1.0 wt.%Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu) and Sn-Ag-Cu-In-based quaternary alloys (Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu-1.0In, Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In, Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.6In, and Sn-1.2Ag-0.7Cu-0.4In), fracture-mode change, shear strengths, and fracture energies were observed and measured under a high-speed shear test of 500 mm/s. The samples in each composition were prepared with as-reflowed ones or solid-aged ones at $125^{\circ}C$ to 500 h. As a result, it was observed that ductile or quasi-ductile fracture modes occurs in the most of Sn-Ag-Cu-In samples. The happening frequency of a quasi-ductile fracture mode showed that the Sn-Ag-Cu-In joints possessed ductile fracture properties more than that of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu in the high-speed shear condition. Moreover, the Sn-Ag-Cu-In joints presented averagely fracture energies similar to those of Sn-Ag-Cu joints. While maximum values in the fracture energies were measured after the solid aging for 100 h, clear decreases in the fracture energies were observed after the solid aging for 500 h. This result indicated that reliability degradation of the Sn-Ag-Cu-In solder joints might accelerate from about that time.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.130-134
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• 2018

In the past few years, various solder compositions have been a representative material to electronic packages and surface mount technology industries as a replacement of Pb-base solder alloy. Therefore, extensive studies on process and/or reliability related with the low Ag composition have been reported because of recent rapid rise in Ag price. In this study, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu, Sn-0.7Cu and Sn-0.3Ag-0.5Cu solder bar samples were fabricated by melting of Sn, Ag and Cu metal powders. Crystal structure and element concentration were analyzed by XRD, XRF, optical microscope, FE-SEM and EDS. The fabricated solder samples were composed of ${\beta}-Sn$, ${\varepsilon}-Ag_3Sn$ and ${\eta}-Cu_6Sn_5$ phases.